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10 NFL rookies who could become instant stars in 2020

By Rucker Haringey

Chase Young, Ohio State Buckeyes. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Chase Young, Ohio State Buckeyes. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Derrick Brown, Carolina Panthers
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 01: Derrick Brown #5 of the Auburn Tigers reacts to a play during the 2020 Outback Bowl against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Raymond James Stadium on January 01, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

9. Derrick Brown

When the Panthers made the decision to draft Brown in Round 1 it was a great example of a franchise filling a huge need with their first pick. Carolina’s defensive front was awful against the run in 2019. Adding a big-bodied defensive tackle like Brown to the mix should allow them to improve dramatically this season.

Brown’s subtle advantage as a rookie is that he gets to play next to Kawann Short at defensive tackle. Short missed a large portion of last season due to injury. Essentially, the Panthers are going to be adding what they believe to be two really good starters to the interior of their defensive line this season.

The key for Brown will be to adjust to the rigors of life in the NFL right away. His elite combination of size and burst allowed him to physically dominate battles in the SEC even when his technique wasn’t perfect. The former Auburn star needs to learn to play with a lower pad level on a regular basis as a pro.

If he can make that subtle change to his game, he has a chance to become a dominant defensive lineman. His ability to knife into the opposing backfield and make plays is going to give the Panthers defense a serious boost. The group won’t be good in 2020, but Brown will flash enough potential to get people in Carolina really excited about his future.

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